BAT FALCON

Did you know? Many of our Rainforest Expeditions guests spot the brightly-colored Bat Falcon!

The Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) is a small, colorful falcon that lives at the edge of rainforests. Guests of the Rainforest Expeditions eco-lodges see the Bat Falcon most commonly along the meandering, coffee-colored Tambopata River. It sometimes reveals its presence with a rapid series of notes similar to the sounds of the American Kestrel. More often, guides and guests notice it perched atop a tall snag at the river’s edge.

Bat Falcons prefer to spend their time at the edges of rivers to catch unwary birds and bats that happen to fly across the waterway. The unobstructed view and flying space favor the falcon and keep many birds from flying across the river. For this reason, small birds adapted to the forest understory rarely fly across a waterway as wide as the Tambopata. Therefore, populations of the same species residing in the forests on opposite banks are practically isolated. Birds with the rapid flight such as parakeets and swifts don’t hesitate. They just fly across rivers. However, they fly in flocks because Bat Falcons love to eat them!

How to identify a Bat Falcon How to separate it from the Orange-breasted Falcon: The Bat Falcon has a larger, rarer cousin in Tambopata. They look very similar but Orange-breasted falcons can be recognized by the orange color on the chest. In addition, they have coarse orange and black markings on the breast. Notched bill: Many falcon species have a distinct notch on their bill. This “tooth” is an adaptation for cutting the neck vertebrae of their prey.

Bat Falcon Fun Facts

Named after a prey item: The Bat Falcon gets its name from its ability to catch bats. It regularly takes bats at dawn and dusk.

A hood to shade its eyes: Like many species of falcons, the Bat Falcon has a pattern on its head that somewhat resembles a hood. This pattern helps to shade its eyes from the glare of the sun. It is very similar to the reason why baseball players use black markings under their eyes.

Long wings for fast flight: The long, pointed wings of Bat Falcons are an adaptation for a swift flight that helps them snatch fast flying birds and bats out of the air.